Seongsu budae jjigae with free yogurt and self-serve sides: Songtan

Last week after work I really wanted something warm and spicy, so I headed to an army stew place near Seongsu Station 🥰 After work, rice dishes are honestly the most satisfying, right 👍🏻 And budae jjigae (army stew) especially — once you toss in the ramen noodles, it somehow melts away the day's fatigue :) This time I visited Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch.

Where is Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, and what are the hours and parking?

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building near Seongsu Station, at 97 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. It's open weekdays 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:30) and weekends 11:30–21:00 (last order 20:00), with free parking available right in front of the store (unavailable when full).

Since it's on the 2nd floor, you follow the stairs by the entrance up to the restaurant :) It's close to Seongsu Station so it wasn't hard to find even on a first visit, and even the outside of the building had a retro vibe that got me excited before I even walked in haha.

What the restaurant and tables are like

Stepping inside, the whole place felt comfortable with a slightly retro feel :) True to an army stew specialty restaurant, each table has a pot you cook right on it, and the space is fairly large, so it seemed like a good spot to visit with friends or coworkers too haha.

Free slushie, coffee and yogurt at Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae

There were detailed instructions on the table for how to enjoy Jindaegwang budae jjigae the best way, so I followed them exactly :) Plus, slushies, coffee, and even yogurt were all free to enjoy, so I got to indulge even after the meal. These little extra touches made the whole experience even more satisfying 🫶🏻

Ordering was easy through the tablet set up at each table :) It was convenient because I could browse the menu slowly and order without having to call a staff member over.

What's at the self-serve side dish and rice corner?

The self-serve corner had basic side dishes and rice ready to go, so I could freely take as much as I needed. Being able to refill without any hesitation made for a really filling meal 🙏🏻

The basic side dishes came out more varied than I expected, which was nice. Each one was neatly prepared, and they paired really well with the budae jjigae haha.

Jindaegwang budae jjigae with ramen noodles and assorted sausages

✔️ Jindaegwang budae jjigae & ramen noodles (ramyeon sari) & assorted sausages

When the budae jjigae arrived, I didn't dig in right away — instead I set a 5-minute timer and waited for it to boil down nicely :) Watching the broth get richer and richer as it simmered made me want to eat it right away haha.

Once the stew started boiling, I could see it was generously loaded with ham and sausages 🥰

Adding the assorted sausages meant I got to enjoy picking out different kinds of sausage too 🫶🏻

Of course, you can't leave out the ramen noodles with budae jjigae 😆 Once the broth had boiled for a bit, I added the noodles, and as the broth soaked into them, they looked so much more appetizing 👍🏻

Worth it for a spicy army stew dinner in Seongsu?

Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch is a place I'll keep thinking of whenever I want a filling meal in Seongsu! The stew was generous and the broth rich, making it great with rice. The self-serve corner and free drinks made the whole meal easy and comfortable too haha. It's a great budae jjigae spot in Seongsu to visit on a day like yesterday, when you're craving something spicy and warm after work 🥰

It's easy to get to since it's close to Seongsu Station, and with the generous ham and sausages plus the ramen noodles, it made for a really filling meal :) Budae jjigae really is best cooked and eaten fresh, right 👍🏻 If you're deciding what to eat for lunch or dinner in Seongsu, and you're in the mood for something hearty and spicy rather than something light, this place is worth a visit! 😆